Ola has given up on Google Maps for navigation of cabs and other services in the country and it will be using its in-house Ola Maps service from now. Ola like many other navigation-centric platforms has relied on Google Maps to run its features such as cabs, delivery and more. Ola Maps will be taking over those duties for the company, which it says is going to offer better and faster navigation for its cabs and other services.
Ola is also opening the Maps API open to developers so that other platforms can look at integrating the feature for their own services. Most of our apps like Zomato, Uber and even shopping apps need location access to track your details and deliver the cab, food or grocery right at your doorsteps. Ola Maps is hoping to become the make-in-India Google Maps rival for all these platforms in the country.
Ola Maps Takes On Google Maps – Why The Change?
Ola has worked on its in-house Maps service and replaced it with Google Maps for multiple reasons. Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO, Ola claims that by making this move, his company is already going to save Rs 100 crore every year. He even points out in a post on X that the platform has cut their cost to zero by switching to Ola Maps. He mentions that you can access the new avatar of Ola app by updating right away which gets you connected to its in-house Ola Maps service.
Ola also says that it will be sharing a detailed blog post to explain how Ola Maps has been built in-house using open source materials. The Ola chief also confirmed that Ola Maps will soon offer new features like street view, indoor images along with 3D and drone maps among others.
Google Maps – Many Challengers But One Winner?
This isn’t the first time Google Maps is facing a domestic challenger in the country. MapMyIndia has done well to become a strong alternative to Google’s service by offering a localised touch and features that are more in tune with the needs of our roads and overall driving culture.
Ola has recently moved away from Microsoft Azure for its operations and this move to ditch Google Maps is significant. Having said that, it is all good by making the news for these changes but vital that perseveres using the in-house services for the long term and continue to give consumers more options.
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